In an emotional and deeply personal revelation, The Young and the Restless icon Sharon Case has opened up about how the recasting of

her on-screen son, Noah Newman, affected her both professionally and personally. Fans have long speculated about the changes

surrounding the character — but now, Sharon is setting the record straight about how those shifts truly impacted her heart off-screen.

💔 A Mother On and Off Screen

 

 

For over two decades, Sharon Case has embodied Sharon Newman, one of Genoa City’s most complex and beloved characters. Through heartbreaks, losses, and rebirths, her relationship with her son Noah has remained one of the show’s emotional anchors.

Noah — originally portrayed by child actors and later by Kevin Schmidt, Robert Adamson, and most recently Rory Gibson — has undergone multiple recasts over the years. But for Sharon, each transition felt like saying goodbye to a family member.

 

 

“Every time an actor leaves, especially someone who plays your child, it feels personal,” Sharon confessed in a recent interview with Soap Opera Digest. “You spend long days together, sharing emotional scenes that can feel incredibly real. When the role changes hands, you have to rewire that connection. It’s not easy.”

She went on to admit that the first time Noah was recast, it took her by surprise. “I remember thinking, ‘Wait, that’s my kid!’ It’s funny, but there’s truth to it — you build a mother-son bond with the actor playing your child. Letting go of that dynamic can really affect you.”

🎭 The Emotional Reality of Recasts

Soap fans know recasts are part of the genre’s DNA — but for actors, they can be surprisingly tough. Sharon revealed that while she always welcomes new talent, the emotional transition can be bittersweet.

“It’s like your family moving out, and someone else moving in to play the same role,” she said with a smile. “You have to learn new rhythms, new chemistry. As an actress, you adapt — but as a person, you miss the familiarity.”

When Robert Adamson joined the show in 2012, his natural chemistry with Sharon made their on-screen bond believable from day one. Sharon recalled, “Robert brought warmth and depth to Noah. We had this instant connection. We’d talk about family, life, and even our characters’ struggles outside of filming. It made those mother-son moments feel incredibly real.”

So when Rory Gibson took over the role in 2021, Sharon admitted she felt the shift deeply — though she also embraced it as part of her long career in daytime television.

“Rory’s energy was so different — he was fresh, eager, and full of passion,” she said. “I had to re-learn Sharon’s relationship with Noah through his eyes. It was challenging but rewarding. And honestly, he made me see my character’s evolution in a whole new light.”

🌟 Behind the Scenes: The Cast Is a Family

While some fans focus on the changes onscreen, Sharon reminded viewers that behind the cameras, the Y&R cast truly is a family.

“We go through all the emotions together — joy, sadness, change, loss,” she shared. “We celebrate each other’s milestones and comfort each other when someone moves on. When Robert left, it wasn’t just a storyline ending — it was saying goodbye to a friend.”